Supporter Impact Report - Dublin City University Educational Trust - Dublin City ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Dublin City University
Educational Trust
Supporter Impact Report
2017
Supporter Impact Report
01
At DCU Educational Trust,
we are passionate about the
power of higher education
to transform lives and
societies and we believe
great things are possible
when philanthropy combines
with a young, dynamic and
ambitious university like DCU.
Through our fundraising work,
we aim to build meaningful
partnerships with DCU’s
supporters for today and
for the future in order to
further DCU’s mission to
transform lives and societies
through education, research,
innovation and engagement.
Supporter Impact Report
02
Contents
Thank You from the Chair and CEO 05
A New Era of Talent, Discovery and Transformation 06
Shaping the Future: The Campaign for DCU 07 — 10
Transforming Student Lives and Supporting Potential 11 — 24
Addressing Societal Challenges Through Research and Innovation 25 — 34
Engaging With the DCU Community 35 — 45
Our Council of Trustees 46
03
04 Supporter Impact Report
Private fundraising plays a critical role in At the heart of what we do in DCU Educational
enabling DCU to advance its mission and 2017 Trust are the relationships we build with those
was another successful year for our Shaping who share our passion for the transformative
the Future Campaign. Supporters of DCU power of education and the liberating impact of
contributed more than €7.5 million in private knowledge. Throughout 2017 it was a privilege
funding to projects to transform not only the to work with alumni, friends, corporations, trusts
future of our students’ education, but also the and foundations with the desire to enable the
future of our country and our society. University to continue to deliver life-changing
scholarships, progressive social initiatives and
Last year, our donors gave generously to a research to address some of society’s greatest
wide range of projects including support for challenges.
young people from disadvantaged socio-
economic backgrounds to fulfil their potential Every donation makes a difference, whether it
through our Access Scholarship Programme is a company enabling a new academic chair,
and support for Ireland’s future athletics and a foundation facilitating a capital project or
GAA stars through the DCU Sports Academy. an individual contributing to a scholarship.
2017 also saw our donors and sponsors invest I have been struck by the scale of support from
in strategic projects to transform Irish society, companies for the vision for DCU, but one
from projects to assist Irish family businesses to notable highlight in 2017 was the enthusiasm of
initiatives with potential to change the future DCU alumni to keep in touch with the University
of Irish education. I hope that you will enjoy this and to give back in multiple ways. During our
report which provides some insights into these two telethons, our student callers spoke with
and many other projects made possible thanks 1,553 graduates who, in addition to offering
to the generosity of our supporters. careers support, guidance and mentoring,
pledged more than €160,000 to support Access
Scholarships at DCU. This level of support is a
testament to the understanding and passion
which DCU’s alumni share for the University’s
mission to transform lives and society.
Larry Quinn,
Chair,
DCU Educational Trust
Nathalie Walker,
CEO,
DCU Educational Trust
05
A New Era
of Talent,
Discovery and
Transformation
2017 was another very significant year In my eight years to date as President of
for Dublin City University. It was the year DCU, I have become acutely aware that
in which our student numbers crossed achieving the ambitious aspirations of this
17,000 for the first time and in which our dynamic University is hugely dependent on
ranking as one of the world’s leading young the generosity and guidance of our friends
universities was reinforced in both the and supporters, including our rapidly
QS and Times Higher Education World growing family of alumni. There were
University ranking tables. many manifestations of such generosity
and support in 2017, including the
As Ireland’s fastest growing university, appointment of the new Desmond Chair in
infrastructural and capacity Early Childhood Education, the AIB Chair
enhancements are critically important in Data Analytics, and multiple donations
to us and the rollout of our Campus to support our growing numbers of Access
Development plan was particularly evident students and our University of Sanctuary
across our three academic campuses, two initiatives for immigrants and refugees.
in Drumcondra and one in Glasnevin. There
were many highlights to celebrate during Aligned with our ambitious vision, our
the past year in terms of the academic Shaping the Future Campaign seeks to
achievements of our students and staff, generate support for 20 impactful projects
research accomplishments and funding with the potential to transform not only
awards, and extracurricular successes in our students’ education but also the future
areas such as sport, entrepreneurship and of our society. More than €30 million has
the arts. But, perhaps the most significant already been generated as part of the
development in 2017 was the launch of Campaign thanks to the generosity of
our new Strategic Plan (‘Talent, Discovery our friends, alumni and supporters. The
and Transformation’) covering the period University is tremendously grateful to each
October 2017 – September 2022. The and every one of our supporters for the
plan sets out an ambitious vision for DCU role you are playing in making the vision for
over the next five years and, as the title DCU a reality.
suggests, our primary focus will be on
developing and attracting Talent, on the
Discovery and application of knowledge,
Supporter Impact Report
and on the Transformation of the world
around us through what we do. Professor Brian MacCraith,
President,
Dublin City University
06
Shaping the Future:
The Campaign for DCU
Since its launch in 2015 with 20 flagship
projects, our Shaping the Future campaign
has made a huge impact with projects
working to address societal issues like
equality of access to higher education and
global challenges such as the provision of
clean water for everyone. We hope that you
enjoy reading about the progress of many of
these projects in this report.
A full overview of all our campaign projects
can be found on our campaign website:
shapingthefuture.dcu.ie/campaign/
campaign-projects
DCU Access: Pathways to Brighter Futures UStart – Empowering Student Entrepreneurs
GAA Educational Research Institute Age-Friendly University Centre for Family Business
Institute for Future Media and Journalism (FuJo) DCU Institute of Education
DCU Water Institute Ireland India Institute Leaders in Knowledge Creation
Pioneering Developments in STEM Education Fáilte ar Líne – Learn Irish Online
DCU Student Centre Student Leadership and Life-skills Centre Centre for Healthy Ageing
Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction (IICRR)
Historic Collections Research Centre Learning Futures Labs
DCU Sports Academy Visual Arts Initiative
07
Shaping the Future:
Campaign News
Leaders in Knowledge Creation
In 2017, DCU’s Prometric Chair
in Assessment Michael O’Leary
and the Centre for Assessment
Research, Policy and Practice in
Education (CARPE) continued to
deliver research to enhance the
practice of assessment across all
levels of the educational system.
In October 2017, CARPE also
welcomed John Gardner from
the University of Stirling for the
annual CARPE lecture, creatively
entitled ‘The Quantum of her
Wantum cannot vary – or can
it?” on the topic of imprecision in
educational assessment.
Charles Kernan, CEO and President of Prometric, and Garret
Sherry, Prometric Vice President and General Manager of
Ireland, pictured on a visit to DCU to learn more about CARPE’s
ongoing work and vision
Student Centre
Work continued on the construction
of DCU’s new state of the art
Student Centre. The Centre, which
has been funded through a student
levy, voted on by the students
themselves together with significant
donations from The Tony Ryan Trust
and Bank of Ireland, will be officially
opened in September 2018.
Supporter Impact Report
08
Fáilte ar Líne
2017 saw the Campaign’s Fáilte
ar Líne project partner with the
FutureLearn platform, which boasts
more than 7 million learners globally,
to develop Irish 101, an online course
that will enable the Irish diaspora to
learn about Irish culture and the Irish
language from beginners level, from
any location in the world.
Ireland India Institute
For the Ireland India Institute, 2017 was the first
year of its Global India Project, an EU-funded
European Training Network coordinated by
DCU with 15 PhD fellows in six EU universities
partnered with six top Indian universities. Through
this project, DCU recruited five Global India PhD
fellows to research topics including security, women
and politics, environment and business. 2017 also
saw the Ireland India Institute deliver a range
of high profile events that included an event on
‘Sustainable Lifestyles: Yoga and Indian Traditions’
in partnership with the Embassy of India, the first
Postgraduate Conference on South Asian Studies Attendees at the inaugural meeting of the
and a conference on ‘India and Europe: Debating Global India European Training Network at
the Challenge of Climate Change.’ DCU in April 2017
Age-Friendly University
A further nine universities from around
the world joined our Age-Friendly
University network, bringing the total
number of members to 20. In keeping
with DCU’s commitment to open up
every aspect of campus life to respond
to the needs and interests of older
adults, DCU saw a growing number
of older people taking undergraduate
modules while a further 260 older
people participated in DCU’s Love
of Lifelong Learning Programme,
taking modules in subjects ranging
from psychology and economics to life
writing and digital photography.
09
DCU Water Institute
DCU’s Water Institute continued to
develop innovative approaches to the
challenges of water quality, delivery
and management. New partnerships
and projects established included
monitoring emerging contaminants
with Arizona State University and the
Environmental Protection Agency, the
three-year EU-funded MONITOOL
project to assess the chemical status
of coastal waters through passive
sampling and a research pilot with
IBM to leverage Internet of Things
technology for environmental water
monitoring and management.
DCU Institute for International Conflict
Resolution and Reconstruction (IICRR)
DCU’s IICRR was awarded €900,000 in Marie Curie EU
H2020 funding in 2017 to lead the SHADOW research
and training programme to explore the nature of informal
economies and shadow practices in the former USSR region
over the next four years, led by IICRR’s Dr Abel Polese. 2017
also saw three IICRR PhD students Bitopi Dutta, Cornelia
Baciu and Tajma Kapic win very prestigious Irish Research
Council PhD scholarships, for their work on India, Pakistan
and Bosnia Herzegovina respectively. The Institute’s
researchers continue to publish extensively on topics
ranging from the Northern Ireland peace process to peace
building in Kosovo and to organise policy focused events on
the protection of civilians in conflict, migration, EU security
and the Middle East crisis.
DCU Institute for Future Media
and Journalism (FuJo)
In 2017, FuJo secured research funding
from the Irish Research Council for
projects on the Citizens’ Assembly
and online hate speech; from the
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for
a project on new cultures of digital
video consumption and for continued
participation in the Reuters Digital
News Report survey; and from the HSE’s
National Office for Suicide Prevention
for analysis of the HSE’s monitoring of
suicide coverage. FuJo also successfully
Supporter Impact Report
secured H2020 funding of €3.9 million
to coordinate a Marie Curie European
Training Network called JOLT which
will look at harnessing digital and data
technologies for journalism. JOLT will
bring four new PhD students to DCU with
a further three PhD students to be hosted
by industry partners in the BBC and
10
Irish Times.Transforming Student Lives and Supporting Potential 11
Transforming
Student Lives
1,300 Access 210 athletes
students supported by
supported DCU Sports
Academy
15 asylum seekers 10 arts 17 memorial
commence studies bursaries scholarships
in DCU awarded
4 participants in 6 overseas summer
Washington Ireland internships with
Transforming Student Lives and Supporting Potential
Programme corporate supporters
12DCU Sports Academy and
Bank of Ireland Strengthen
Winning Partnership
Liam McLoughlin
and Linda McGrath
from Bank of Ireland
join DCU staff and
students to announce
the renewal of their
support for the DCU
Sports Academy
Bank of Ireland announced in 2017 that development, academic guidance and
it would renew its support for the DCU career advice.
Sports Academy until 2020. This renewed
funding will enable DCU Sports Academy to DCU also appointed a new Director of
continue to support male and female elite Sports and Wellbeing, James Galvin,
athletes from track and field and inter- who will drive the development of a new
county GAA players to reach their optimum strategy for sport at DCU in keeping with
performance levels and combine their the University’s commitment to elevating
studies effectively. The Academy supported the relevance, value and importance of
210 elite athletes in 2017. university sport, enhancing the quality of
the student experience and contributing
Since it was established in 2006 with the to the sporting pursuits and wellbeing
backing of Bank of Ireland, DCU Sports of students. James joined DCU from the
Academy has provided athlete support Federation of Irish Sport where he
programmes that include strength and previously served as CEO.
conditioning, nutrition, sports performance
“The DCU Sports Academy plays an important role in
providing our young student-athletes with the opportunity
to thrive in a healthy and rewarding atmosphere and to
develop as well-rounded graduates with the skills and
attributes necessary for a fulfilling life beyond the classroom.
We are immensely grateful for the continued support of
Bank of Ireland in making this happen and for their ongoing
commitment, support of and interest in our students’
development.”
James Galvin, Director of Sports and Wellbeing, DCU
13Sophie Becker:
Racing Ahead with DCU
Sophie Becker from Wexford is a promising
young Irish athlete, who has represented
Ireland in international competition at
the U23 European Outdoor Athletics
Championships in the 400m sprint
discipline. Sophie is also the reigning Irish
Indoor 400m Varsity Champion. She is
currently in second year studying for a
BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology and is
supported by the DCU Sports Academy.
Sophie began running at the age of ten access to a gym in St Clare’s which is one of
when a family friend suggested that it the best I have come across. It is amazing to
would help to control her asthma. She have everything that I need so close.
quickly realised that she had a talent and
from the age of 15 began to train seriously “I am training six days per week which can
with her running club, St Joseph’s AC. She be hard on the body but through the Sports
knew she wanted to study genetics and Academy I get subsidised physio visits. I
settled on DCU after attending an Open really can’t emphasise how much this helps
Day which led to her getting in touch to keep my body in shape. When you’re
with Enda Fitzpatrick, Director of DCU’s training at such a high intensity, you need
Athletics Academy: “Enda told me about the to get rubs out to ensure that your muscles
scholarships, training and other supports are recovering well.
that I would get in DCU which definitely
influenced my decision to study here.” “My sports scholarship has also been a
great help in enabling me to pay for warm
Now in her second year at DCU, Sophie weather training from which I have seen
believes that training with DCU has taken great results and in paying for race fees,
her performance to a new level: “Through flights and accommodation to race abroad.”
the DCU Sports Academy, I have a new
Transforming Student Lives and Supporting Potential
coach, Jeremy Lyons, and a new training Sophie is currently working hard and is
group which have really upped the level that focused on completing her degree by 2020
I am training at. I really wouldn’t be where I at the same time as aiming to qualify for
am today, representing Ireland, without this the European Athletics Championships in
support. The facilities in DCU are amazing Berlin this summer and the Olympic Games
too, we train in Morton Stadium and I have in Tokyo in 2020.
14Diarmuid O’Connor:
Finding a Successful Balance
At 22 years old, DCU student Diarmuid O’Connor has
experienced sporting achievements of which most young
GAA players could only dream. Playing with the Mayo
senior football team since 2014, he has won an All-Ireland
minor title in 2013, a Sigerson Cup in 2014, an All-Ireland
under-21 title in 2016, played in two All-Ireland Senior
Football Finals and was voted Young Player of the Year for
2015/16. Diarmuid has achieved all of this success whilst
also maintaining high academic standards to progress to the
final year of his PE and Mathematics course.
How has the DCU Sports Academy helped is so impressive. I have learned so much
you to develop and balance academic life from them about everything from tactical
with performing at the highest levels in awareness and skills to knowing that rest
sport? is just as important as training. Some
In first year, I was offered a place on campus managers might want to train all the time
in a house with other GAA players. It was with no time to recover, but if Niall Moyna
great to live with people with the same knew that a player was not 100% he would
interests. My friends from my course had a always give them time off if necessary.
different lifestyle, I didn’t get to socialise as
much but living in the house made it easier Ross Munnelly was my fresher manager,
as I wasn’t on my own. The sports scholarship I’ve also worked with Ken Robinson, Niall
really helped in other ways too such as Moyna, Dermot Sheridan, Sean Boylan
access to physios and nutritionist talks and obviously Michael Kennedy is always
about what to eat and the importance of there too. I think you learn something new
sleep, something that I possibly didn’t always from every manager that you work with.
get enough of! I’ve gotten lots of ideas from my managers
in DCU and I’ve definitely brought some of
There was also never any pressure from DCU these back home with me.
to play football. Niall Moyna and Michael
Kennedy [Head of Gaelic Games] always What attributes do you think that really
say that your course comes first. At 18 top sports people all share?
years of age, you can be so focused on your I think mindset is the number one thing. A lot
football but they kept an eye on how you of people are more skilful than me but their
were getting on with your course too. head might not be in the right place. Focus
and determination are key. If your head is in
You played in All-Ireland finals in 2016 the right place, you can train yourself to do
and 2017 that featured over 20 DCU anything.
students and alumni. What does that say
to you about the influence of the Sports
Academy?
The people involved in the Sports Academy
and the knowledge that they have of sport
15DCU Access: Giving Talented
Youth the Chance to Excel
DCU’s Access Programme is the largest students enrolled at DCU stood at 1,300
programme of its kind in Ireland and in September 2017.
a flagship project in the Campaign
for DCU. It aims to make third level In addition to donating to the core
education attainable to talented students Access Scholarship Programme, our
from disadvantaged socio-economic donors also generously supported
backgrounds and provides a range of complementary initiatives. This included
personal, financial and academic supports two accommodation scholarships for
to enable students to thrive and excel in Access students coming from homeless
their studies once here. backgrounds and support from Oath for
the annual DCU Access Maths Outreach
In 2017, we were grateful to secure more Quiz Series, which encourages students
than €1.2 million in pledges enabling us from linked secondary schools in north
to support our highest ever number of Dublin to achieve the mathematics grades
students through the Access Scholarship required to enter university.
Programme. The number of Access
Transforming Student Lives and Supporting Potential
“What really inspires me about the Access Programme isn’t
just the tenacity and determination of these students, often
from families where third level education isn’t the norm, but the
outcomes of the programme. With 93% completing third level
education, 53% undertaking postgraduate study and 96% of
those who seek it entering the workplace, this is a programme
that makes the rhetoric of transformation a reality.”
Nathalie Walker, CEO , DCU Educational Trust
16The Future Looks Bright
for DCU Access Graduates
At graduation ceremonies held in DCU
in November 2017, 221 Access Scholars
were amongst those celebrating their
graduation with friends and family.
For this group however, this event was
possibly all the sweeter for the barriers
which they have overcome in order to
claim their university place.
We invite you to meet some of our
impressive 2017 graduates who
are now looking to their future with
optimism and an appetite to change
the world.
Laura Horan, BA in Journalism 2017
Laura Horan: Access Made Because of my background I thought I
would feel like an outcast at university but
DCU a Possibility
I have never felt more at home! DCU is a
diverse space that gives each student the
“At the age of eight my mom and I were
opportunity to express themselves.
left homeless, spending most of our time
on people’s couches and in shelters until
I am an amazing person because of DCU.
we were housed four years later.
Not only have I learnt the skills I need for
journalism, multimedia, PR and marketing,
Up until 6th year, I never thought I could
but I have also gotten the opportunity to
go to college or that I could afford to go.
help others and to make great friends and
I decided I was finally done rebelling though
memories. I have found the motivation
and feeling sorry for myself and I resolved to
and confidence to build a new path that I
study hard for my Leaving Certificate. After
wouldn’t have been able to go down without
finding out about the Access Programme,
the help of the donors who support the
I started to believe DCU was a possibility.
Access Programme.
When I first came to DCU I instantly fell in
The scheme helped with financial and
love. I made friends with students who were
personal support during difficult times,
as open minded and intelligent as myself. I
it helped me grow my social skills with
found clubs and societies full of people who
people similar and different to myself
enjoyed the same activities I did. For the
but most importantly it taught me
three years of my degree, I was on campus
how important it is to help people from
every day morning until night either doing
disadvantaged backgrounds see the
college work, hanging out with friends or
potential they have in life.
working on project ideas for radio shows or
documentaries, just because I couldn’t get
A donation to the Access programme, not
enough of what DCU had to offer.
only helps Access students to better their
lives but it also creates a chain reaction of
people who are grateful and in return will
give back to society in their own way.”
17“A donation to the Access
programme, not only
helps Access students
to better their lives but
it also creates a chain
reaction of people who
are grateful and in return
will give back to society
in their own way.”
Laura Horan, BA in Journalism 2017
Access Scholar
Transforming Student Lives and Supporting Potential
18Access Graduate Raymond
Moran is Aiming High
Access graduate Raymond Moran
grew up in an area where it wasn’t the
norm to progress to higher education.
Today he has a BSc in Genetics and
Cell Biology and a PhD in Molecular
Evolution and is aiming to win a
Nobel prize. Here he explains how the
support of the DCU Access Programme
has contributed to his success and
ambitions for the future.
“I have always spent a lot of time thinking I find it somewhat surreal to think about how
about who I could become and where I much I have changed since coming to DCU.
could go and since an early age I have I arrived planning to simply make it through
been determined to never be limited by my my course and get a steady job but DCU
education. Where I come from and where I and Access taught me not to set myself
still live, progressing to higher education just limits and that anything is possible.
isn’t the norm and can feel somehow out of
reach for many people. My ultimate dream is to win the Nobel
Prize one day and I truly believe that is
Since coming to DCU to pursue a degree achievable. I know that this goal will take
in Genetics and Cell Biology, I have worked me on a journey that requires continuous
hard to forge my own path but my success learning and hard work but one that I hope
was also achieved with the support of will ultimately impact society and more
others. The personal and financial support importantly, people.
that I received from DCU and the Access
Programme has been critical in enabling I see myself as a representative. There are
me to go further and be better than I ever a lot of people in my position, who avail of
thought I could be. DCU’s supports to achieve their goals and
who crucially need supports like the Access
I want to be the best in the world at what I Programme to realise their ambitions.
do and to make a significant difference in
the lives of others, through research that It is incredibly humbling to get the support
will improve the health of many people. of DCU’s donors, people who have allowed
me to achieve without even knowing me and
others alike. It is remarkable.”
19A Little Goes “It can be hard to juggle
funding my studies
a Long Way… and music at the same
time. I’ve had the same
concert flute since I
started playing and I
really need to upgrade
to a better one but with
the cost of rent in Dublin,
investing in instruments
can sometimes go on
the back burner. This
bursary relieves a lot of
pressure and will enable
me to finally get my new
instrument.”
Ciara Casey, 2017 bursary recipient
2017/18 Arts Bursary recipients
Each year DCU Educational Trust is Washington Ireland
delighted to be able to support a modest
Programme
range of special student initiatives and
to meet other pressing needs for the
Each year, through our unrestricted funds
University as they arise from funds given
we sponsor DCU students to participate
to unrestricted projects.
in the prestigious Washington Ireland
Programme. The programme brings
Recognising Students’ together young leaders from across
Artistic Talents Ireland and Northern Ireland for a year-
long leadership and skills development
In 2017, our unrestricted funds enabled us to programme, which includes a summer
recognise the talents of ten DCU students semester and work placement in
who were awarded with an arts bursary to Washington DC.
help them pursue excellence in their chosen
fields of music, photography, videography Thirty young people are selected for
and visual arts. The Arts Bursary was the programme each year through a
Transforming Student Lives and Supporting Potential
established by DCU in 2009 to promote competitive recruitment process. The
excellence in artistic and cultural activities programme identifies promising young
and to encourage students to excel in their people with a commitment to service, a
craft. It is jointly funded by DCU’s Office of track record of leadership and who excel
Student Life and DCU Educational Trust. both in influencing their environments and
in making significant contributions for the
benefit of others. It builds their skills through
work experience, educational opportunity
and hands-on citizenship both at home and
in the US. In 2017, four DCU students were
selected: Áine Lawless, Sarah McLaughlin,
Diana Oprea and Rachel Wheeler.
20Washington Ireland
Programme: Diana’s Story
Diana Oprea moved from Romania to
Ireland in 2011 and settled in Rush,
Co. Dublin with her family. She is
currently a second year student on the
BA in Global Business at DCU. At just
18 years old, she was selected as one of
the youngest ever participants on the
Washington Ireland Programme in 2017.
“I have always been somebody who tried I did my work placement with the American
to start initiatives in my community and Chemistry Council, a trade organisation
tried to get people involved, particularly representing chemical companies in the US.
when it came to my passions for youth It was my first experience of working in an
education and youth empowerment. So office and I was thrown in the deep end from
when I first came across the Washington day one, developing my skills working with
Ireland Programme (WIP), the leadership spreadsheets, writing reports and dealing
aspect really appealed to me. I knew I would with people.
gain exposure to leaders from diverse fields
whose experiences I could learn a lot from. The programme also improved my resilience
and self-knowledge. I now know my values,
At our induction before we departed principles and who I am as a person. Taking
for Washington DC, I got to meet the part has encouraged me to reach out
participating students from a very diverse further as a leader. After returning from
range of backgrounds. I didn’t actually the summer internship, I did my community
know a lot about the history of Northern service element of the programme working
Ireland before the programme so I was like a with a number of organisations including
sponge trying to absorb all the information with UNICEF as a Youth Ambassador, giving
on its politics. The programme taught me a workshops to children on the Sustainable
lot about diversity and tolerance. Development Goals, as well as with DCU’s
Enactus Society, EIL Explore and I joined the
From the induction, I could immediately see board of the Global Citizenship Awards.
I was amongst a group of very impressive
people that I could learn a lot from. The WIP is all about leadership and service and
group was a great source of inspiration in the future I hope to maintain a balance
and we have remained in touch ever since. between both of these aspects in my life.
I know I would like to be a leader in business
The experience of completing a summer but I will always want to keep this balanced
internship in Washington DC was incredible. with my voluntary work advocating for
During our first week orientation, we heard youth education and youth empowerment.”
from a number of high profile speakers
including Barack Obama’s speech writer.
21Memorial Scholarships:
Creating Lifelong Opportunities
In 2017, we once again remembered — The Volkswagen Group Ireland
past students, staff and friends of DCU Stephen Moran Memorial Scholarship
through memorial scholarships which were which will support one student on
awarded to 17 students for the 2017/18 DCU’s Access Programme each year.
academic year. These scholarships — The Dr Tim Mahony Memorial
were named in honour of 13 individuals Scholarship which was created by
who have played a key role in the life Toyota Ireland in memory of Dr Tim
of the University and in Irish society, Mahony, one of Ireland’s foremost
including journalist Veronica Guerin, business figures and a leading
former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and philanthropist. This new scholarship will
mountaineer Ger McDonnell who became support one student per year studying
the first Irish person to scale K2 in 2008. the BA course in Contemporary Jazz
We were also honoured to establish two and Music Performance at DCU.
new memorial scholarships for 2017/18:
Transforming Student Lives and Supporting Potential
22We are honoured to acknowledge the 2017/18 Memorial Scholarship recipients:
— The Orla Benson Memorial Scholarship: Arun Decano
— The Frank Durkan Memorial Scholarship: Lisa Lavelle
— The Charles J Haughey Memorial Scholarships: Aoife Farrell; Sean Trimble; Jessica Kidd
— The Dr Tim Mahony Memorial Scholarship: Mario Lazcano
— The Aidan McDonnell Memorial Scholarship: Leah Lynn
— The Ger McDonnell Memorial Scholarship: Jordan Morrissey
— The Volkswagen Group Ireland – Stephen Moran Memorial Scholarship: Áine Murphy
— The Paddy Moriarty Memorial Scholarship: Christine Andreeva
— The TJ O’Driscoll Memorial Scholarship: Farhat Omar
— The Nicola Radford Memorial Scholarship: Danielle Fitzpatrick
— The John Thompson Memorial Scholarship: Daniel Simicic
— The Paddy J Wright Memorial Scholarship: Cassie Hunt; Chloe Neville
— The Veronica Guerin Memorial Scholarship: Conor Molumby (2016/17 recipient)
“The individuals
remembered through
our memorial
scholarships shone
brightly in their own
lives and made a mark
on society, so it is fitting
that their legacy will be
honoured and live on in
the bright and gifted
scholarship recipients
selected this year.”
Mary Shine Thompson,
DCU Educational Trust
Council of Trustees
23Offering Sanctuary
to Asylum Seekers
In September 2017, 15 asylum seekers Shepherd’s Story
and refugees began their studies in DCU
as part of our University of Sanctuary Shepherd moved to Ireland in 2007 from
programme. This was an important step Zimbabwe, fleeing political persecution
in a journey that began in December 2016 and violence under the regime of Robert
when DCU became Ireland’s first University Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party. Since
of Sanctuary for our commitment to arriving in Ireland, Shepherd has spent
welcoming asylum seekers and fostering a over ten years living in direct provision
culture of inclusion. in Portlaoise. He is now studying
Management Information Technology
Five young people living in direct provision and Information Systems with DCU
received a scholarship to study as a full- Connected through the University of
time undergraduate student on campus Sanctuary.
in 2017/18, with one scholarship offered
by each of DCU’s five faculties. A further “Life in direct provision can be very
ten asylum seekers were also given the difficult and boring. I went from having
opportunity to study via DCU Connected,
Transforming Student Lives and Supporting Potential
a job, working every day and having a
the University’s suite of undergraduate routine to all of a sudden having that
and postgraduate distance learning taken away from me and being put in a
programmes. place where I just sit there. I wanted to
be doing something constructive with
Our corporate supporters eBay and my time.
Vodafone donated in-kind gifts which
significantly contributed to the successful Being able to study with DCU Connected
integration of the University of Sanctuary through the University of Sanctuary has
students into campus life. This included completely changed me. I am a totally
the provision of laptops, mobile phones different person now that I wake up every
and other academic equipment critical day knowing I have something to do, it has
for students to participate fully in course given me purpose.”
activities and university life.
24Addressing Societal Challenges Through Research and Innovation 25
Making a Difference
to Children’s Lives
Professor Mathias Urban was appointed What attracted you to the Desmond Chair
as the Desmond Chair in Early Childhood in Early Childhood Education position?
Education at DCU in 2017. The Chair I was impressed by DCU’s ambition to
was created thanks to the generosity of take leadership in this field and to invest
businessman and philanthropist Dermot substantially in early childhood education
Desmond. by creating the only early childhood
chair at an Irish university. I also found
Mathias is a prominent name in the field of it attractive that the Chair is clearly
early childhood studies who is known for his situated in what I call the Bermuda triangle
research in international early childhood of research, policy and practice. DCU
policy and professional practice. His weren’t looking for somebody to conduct
work on professionalising the early years disconnected ivory tower research.
Addressing Societal Challenges Through Research and Innovation
workforce is particularly well-known in Instead, they are interested in research
Ireland. His research collaborations reach that can make a difference to children’s
across Europe, North and South America, lives by influencing policy and impacting
Australia, New Zealand and Africa. He on practice in early childhood care and
is President of the International Froebel education.
Society and Chair of the International
DECET network (Diversity in Early I enjoy getting things off the ground and
Childhood Education and Training). feel honoured and humbled to be given the
opportunity to shape the Centre for Early
Professor Urban is leading the Childhood Research, its vision and research
establishment of a new Centre for Early agenda. As the only early childhood Chair
Childhood Research at the DCU Institute in Ireland, this opens a unique opportunity,
of Education that will contribute not only and a huge responsibility, to influence the
to scholarship but to the development of future direction of the early childhood
national and international public policy in sector in Ireland and beyond.
the sector.
26What are the major research What do you see as the particular
projects and initiatives that you are challenges in the Irish early childhood
currently focusing on? sector today?
My work in recent years, in collaboration The past ten years have seen remarkable
with many others internationally, progress in the early childhood sector
has focused on the support systems in Ireland with the publication of the
we build around young children and Síolta and Aistear frameworks, and the
families in our societies. I am interested ‘Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Charter
in what I call ‘Competent Systems in and Guidelines’. These form a great basis
Early Childhood’: How do the various for further progress but coordination,
(human and institutional) actors in bold leadership, and substantial
early childhood education and care investment at Government level is
interact and come together, or not, as required.
the case may be, to enable more just and
equitable early childhood experiences The Irish early childhood sector is
and outcomes for all children, regardless incredibly dynamic but it is also very
of their background? How do all actors fragmented. Unlike in other countries
– in crèches and preschools, in county in Europe, in Ireland we see a lot of
and city administrations, in colleges and small, independent, private providers
universities, in professional associations, of services for young children. Such a
and in government departments – use structure can lead to a conflation of
their capacity, their agency, to make interests between business requirements,
a difference? We are asking similar professional practice and workforce
questions in locations in Ireland, in interests. There is currently no strong
Europe, in Latin America, Africa and professional organisation for early
Asia, so we can learn from and with childhood practitioners in Ireland, and
each other. although the picture is changing, in the
past it has made it very difficult for the
I am really interested in what we can sector to speak with one voice. There are
learn from initiatives in so-called many highly committed practitioners
developing countries in the global out there and some excellent practice,
south, for instance in Latin America, but significant issues remain in terms of
where early childhood is seen as a public recognition of the workforce and pay.
responsibility and where the policy
discourse extends beyond education What impact do you hope that your
and childcare to include well-being, research will have on the early childhood
health, nutrition, (in)equality and social education landscape in Ireland and
cohesion. Early education and childcare internationally?
are important without doubt, but they I am confident the Centre will
have to be developed in the context of contribute to the debate and provide
all factors that influence a child’s life. strategic leadership to adopt a new
The reality is that an increasing number comprehensive systemic approach to
of children, including in the most affluent early childhood. We will proactively
countries, are growing up under what promote close collaboration between
some used to call, carelessly, ‘third-world research, policy and practice in the field,
conditions’: marginalisation, poverty and we will encourage and facilitate
and malnutrition. shared learning from and with partners in
the global south and north.
In our new Centre for Early Childhood
Research we will be hosting a world class My aim is to place our Centre, and
research team that builds on existing the developments we initiate here in
expertise in DCU’s Institute of Education Ireland, firmly on the map of global
and other faculties, together with early childhood research so that DCU
international doctoral research students, becomes a go-to place for cutting-edge
and supported by a global network of the systems research in our field.
leading critical scholars in our field. This
will, I am convinced, enable us to look at
the early childhood sector in Ireland with
fresh eyes.
27Supporting Philanthropy plays a key role in enabling
postgraduate research at DCU. With
funding from our supporters, doctoral
Postgraduate researchers at DCU are addressing
societal challenges in diverse areas
Research at DCU from improving heart attack treatment
and ensuring an inclusive education
system to exploring the potential of
entrepreneurship to alleviate poverty in
developing countries.
Autism Education Research
In 2017, Paul and Margaret Kerley
agreed to fund a four-year PhD
research position in the School of
Inclusive and Special Education within
DCU’s Institute of Education. This
funding will enable doctoral research to
commence in 2018 on issues relating to
the inclusion of students with autism in
mainstream education.
Alleviating Poverty Through escape poverty, we know very little about
how it looks or functions in settings like this.
Entrepreneurship
The purpose of my study is to explore, in
an immersive way, how entrepreneurship is
Can entrepreneurship be a vehicle for
made to sustain in a deeply impoverished
the alleviation of poverty in developing
context, and to understand whether these
countries? This is one of the questions
entrepreneurs perceive it as a realistic
which Philip O’Donnell, a doctoral
means to break the cycle of poverty.”
researcher with DCU Business School, is
working to answer. His research has been
During his fieldwork, Philip spoke with
made possible through a fully funded
stallholders working in Mukuru on a daily
PhD scholarship supported by US-based
basis gathering a range of perspectives on
company Bennett Hospitality.
entrepreneurship. His interactions provided
insights into the different enterprise
Philip’s research has involved spending
models in the slum, from those who cycled
over four months in the slum community
through various types of business or those
of Mukuru in Nairobi, Kenya which is home
who copied their neighbours’ businesses
to an estimated 500,000 people. Most
to the entrepreneurs who learned a craft
of Mukuru’s adult population earns a
or sought to capitalise on emerging
living through small, informal enterprises,
technology.
around a quarter of which yield an income
of less than €3 per day. Whilst 880 million
Philip is currently in the final stages of
people live in slums around the world, with
completing his doctoral thesis which will
this number expected to treble by 2050,
draw conclusions on the relationship
this kind of entrepreneurship garners
between individual capability and
little attention in the shadow of research
the poverty-breaking potential of
into venture capital-backed technology
entrepreneurship and which will look
entrepreneurship.
at the implications for development
interventions such as providing soft loans
As Philip explains, “Although we are quick
or microfinance.
to cite entrepreneurship as a means to
28Improving Early Diagnosis
of Heart Attacks
Arabelle Cassedy, a PhD candidate in to develop a panel of antibodies that
Dublin City University’s School of detect the presence of cardiac troponin.
Biotechnology, was the winner of the DCU The ultimate goal is to develop a point of
Allergan Innovation Award for 2017/18. care device that can be used by doctors to
The award provided Arabelle with a bursary quickly analyse a blood sample.
of €5,000 to further her research to develop
antibodies that allow for earlier and more Speaking on receiving the award, Arabelle
accurate diagnosis of heart attacks stated, “I was so delighted to receive this
in patients. award which will enable me to travel to
Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar to
Delayed diagnosis of heart attacks can lead collaborate with other researchers working
to poorer patient outcomes. At present, in this field and to access state of the art
heart attacks are diagnosed using tests like characterisation systems to further my
an electrocardiogram (ECG) but Arabelle research. I have already identified some
believes in future they could be diagnosed in promising antibodies but there is a lot more
minutes through a simple blood test. After work to do to determine their qualities.”
a heart attack, a marker called cardiac
troponin is released into the bloodstream The Allergan Innovation Award Programme
in low concentrations. Arabelle’s research was launched by Allergan in March 2017
involves generating new more sensitive to mark 40 successful years of business in
antibodies in the laboratory that can detect Ireland. DCU is one of six Higher Education
the presence of cardiac troponin at very Institutions that Allergan is partnering
low levels. with in Ireland to provide funding to
accomplished scholars who wish to advance
Under the guidance of Principal innovative research studies in the field of
Investigator, Professor Richard O’Kennedy, life sciences.
Arabelle is collaborating with colleagues
29UStart – Taking Innovative
Ideas to the Next Level
In keeping with DCU’s reputation as of judges and potential investors with two
Ireland’s University of Enterprise, support technology start-ups emerging as joint
given through DCU Educational Trust winners of the Best Start-up Opportunity
enabled the UStart student accelerator title:
programme to support ten start-up student — Happy Scribe, a new transcription tool
enterprises in 2017. We are thankful to our to help researchers and journalists save
donors who generously gave their time and time and money transcribing interviews,
financial support to this project. led by André Bastie (Master’s in
Electronic Commerce) and Marc Assens
The four-month accelerator is run by DCU’s (Erasmus Computer Science).
Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurs and is — Giveback.ie, an online platform and
open to profit and not-for-profit ventures social enterprise, led by James Gallagher
from all DCU students, giving them the (Computer Applications), which enables
opportunity to develop innovative ideas and Irish consumers to help some of the most
launch viable start-up companies. vulnerable people in society by simply
shopping online. As consumers shop, they
The 2017 programme culminated in a Demo generate revenue which is donated to
Day where participants pitched to a panel homeless charities.
Addressing Societal Challenges Through Research and Innovation
30Giveback.ie – Funding and they got on board with the idea so we
started building the desktop extension.
Homeless Charities
Around this time, I first heard about UStart
Giveback.ie co-founder and third year
and the programme definitely lived up to
Computer Applications student, James
expectations. We received help to build our
Gallagher, explains how UStart helped
mobile app and we have added another
to develop the idea.
co-founder Seán Judge. One unexpected
benefit for me has been the extent that I
“GiveBack.ie came about last summer when
learned from the other UStart participants
my girlfriend, Victoria Ryan Nesbitt, and
and how they tackle their own challenges.
I had the idea to install something on a
user’s device that works in the background
The best thing about UStart was probably
and when the user makes a purchase, we
the mentoring though, from helping us to
receive a commission which is passed on
craft our story to looking at finance. UStart
to homeless charities. The beauty is that it
really took us to the next level and it has also
doesn’t cost anybody anything extra to
helped us become more connected to the
do this.
start-up ecosystem.”
I had affiliate connections with a lot of
retailers so we brought them together
31Leading the Way for
Irish Family Businesses
DCU’s Centre for Family Business is the first competitiveness of Irish family firms, to offer
centre of excellence and learning in Ireland, insights into international best practice and,
translating leading Irish and international ultimately, to help shape future policy in
research into best practice for incumbent relation to this thriving sector.
and future generations of Irish family
Addressing Societal Challenges Through Research and Innovation
business. In 2017, the Centre continued to engage
with family businesses through a range of
Ongoing philanthropic support from PwC, activities that included its annual national
AIB and William Fry in 2017 enabled DCU’s conference on the topic of ‘The S-Word:
Centre for Family Business to continue to Navigating Succession in Family Business’,
serve as a hub of expertise, offering advice e-zines read by 2,600 family businesses, a
to Irish family firms on the challenges they roadshow and two Women in Leadership
face, from generational succession and the and Family Business events. The Centre
integration of family and non-family talent also published a research report on ‘Family
to inheritance, growth and exports. The Business in the Irish Services Sector’ in 2017.
Centre provides a platform to enhance the
32Family Business Focus:
Colourtrend
Rachel O’Connor is Head of Sales
with Colourtrend, one of Ireland’s
leading decorative paint brands.
She is now the third generation of
family to work in the company which
her grandfather first established
as General Paints in 1953 in an
old Famine workhouse building in
Celbridge. Here she describes how
the company has benefited from its
engagement with DCU’s Centre for
Family Business.
“The Centre brings together family emergency services worldwide. As a bigger
businesses across many industries and and older company, I liked that they had a
identifies common themes and needs, such charter, explicit company values and family
as professionalising the business, bringing councils, things that we do at a more basic
in and blending non-family member leaders level.
at Board and Management level, and
succession planning. We find there is a lot In general, I find the speakers at Centre for
to learn from other family businesses in how Family Business events are very frank and
they have addressed these issues. open – they don’t just give the glossy side.
It is refreshing to attend the events and to
For Colourtrend, the Centre has helped us network with a group of peers where people
with succession planning. As a company, are very open about the challenges that
we don’t do it very often and there are no they face, and where we all want to see
hard and fast rules. In 2017, the Centre fellow Irish companies succeed.
brought Paul and Audrey Darley over from
WS Darley and Co in the USA and I really Eric Clinton, Director of the Centre for
enjoyed their presentation. They are a Family Business, has also been great to work
fourth generation family business and a with, and it’s interesting to hear about the
leading equipment provider to fire and Centre’s research in this area.”
33Enhancing Education
in Irish Primary Schools
A number of donors have been passionate Another innovative initiative made possible
in their support of pioneering projects through philanthropic support is the Write
in DCU’s Institute of Education that are to Read literacy project which aims to help
helping to transform education in Irish primary school children see themselves as
primary schools today. readers, writers and thinkers through the
Addressing Societal Challenges Through Research and Innovation
provision of professional development for
One of these projects is the Western teachers and literacy resources for schools
Seaboard Science Project which has participating in the research project. Write
been supported by the Irish American to Read has been supported by Deutsche
Partnership since 2003. It aims to improve Bank since 2012.
the teaching and learning of primary
science in rural schools by providing
professional development for teachers.
34Engaging With the
DCU Community
35The Atlantic Philanthropies:
Transformation Through Philanthropy
In 2017 DCU Educational Trust created three decades of philanthropic investment
a new award to honour donors who that transformed not only DCU but also
demonstrate a vision, generosity and Ireland.
sustained passion for change that is truly
extraordinary. The Atlantic Philanthropies investments
in DCU focused not only on research but
There could only be one recipient of the also significantly on projects to transform
inaugural DCU Educational Trust Medal the student experience. Funding for
for Transformation through Philanthropy sports facilities, parking, the library and
and that was Charles F Feeney. Through student accommodation was as important
the work of The Atlantic Philanthropies, to Chuck as funding for the National
Chuck Feeney, as most people would know Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, the
him, transformed the physical landscape National Centre for Plasma, Science and
and intellectual life of DCU. The legacy Technology and the National Centre for
of his unparalleled contribution, with Sensor Research. Around our campus
gifts of more than €128 million to DCU, much of the infrastructure you see today,
will continue to benefit our students and would not have been possible without the
academic community for many decades gifts of Chuck Feeney - from our Chemical
to come. and Biological Sciences building and the
Computer Applications Building to the
Professor Brian MacCraith, President of John and Aileen O’Reilly Library and
DCU, was a recipient of funding from The The Helix.
Atlantic Philanthropies early in his career.
Here, he explains about the impact of this In fact, The Atlantic Philanthropies has
once in a generation philanthropist. invested in more than 15 buildings since
the formal establishment of DCU as a
“In the not-so-distant past of the 1980s, university in 1989. In the 28 years since
Ireland was a very different country dealing then, DCU has achieved international
with the challenges of economic recession, recognition for the quality and impact of its
high levels of unemployment and mass research, its focus on the student learning
emigration together with many other social experience, and its emphasis on social
and human rights issues. Unsurprisingly inclusion and equity of student access
in this environment, education suffered to educational opportunities. We rank
from a serious lack of investment and, in consistently in the top 50 young universities
particular, higher education was in the worldwide, a feat that would not have
doldrums. been possible in this time-scale, without the
support and investments of The Atlantic
This was the Ireland that Chuck Feeney Philanthropies. It really was a privilege
encountered when he began to explore the to be able to honour a donor who for so
country of his ancestry in the mid-1980s. long gave anonymously, for the absolutely
Like the great visionary he is, he recognised remarkable transformation he and The
that education is the pathway to social Atlantic Philanthropies enabled.
Engaging With the DCU Community
advancement and economic prosperity.
The future of DCU students and Irish
“Irish education had not kept pace with society has been transformed through
the rest of the world,” Feeney stated at Chuck’s incredible contributions, and for
the time, “with educated people you can this, we express our deepest gratitude.”
achieve more.” And so began a journey of
36You can also read
